J. H. Schröter & the ghost mountains of Venus.

Since the invention of the telescope, observers of Venus have often reported irregularities in the shape of the planet's terminator and cusps. Some of these, such as terminator undulations, might be easily ascribed to poor seeing conditions; others, such as cusp extensions near inferior conjunction, are undoubtedly real and evidence of Venus's atmosphere. This paper considers a third category: detached points of light recorded by several observers at the cusps of the planet, explained by some as high mountain peaks catching the sunlight. Among those who argued for the existence of such mountains was Johann Schrater, a stance that brought him into conflict with the views of William Herschel. Nowadays the 'ghost mountains of Venus' are seen for what they are: an illusion encouraged by a growing belief in the plurality of Earth-like worlds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]